Q & A with Justin Layton

Q&A WITH JUSTIN LAYTON

UPPER GILA RIVER ALLIANCE INTERVIEW

BY: AMBER MORIN

Justin Layton is a 4th generation farmer in the Gila Valley of Graham County, Arizona. He and his wife, Leia, have been married for almost 20 years and have two children, Rachel and Jake. Justin is a member of Arizona Cotton Growers’ Board of Directors, serves as a Director for the local Natural Resource and Conservation District, sits on several Canal Company Boards as well as the Irrigation District Board of Directors, and is the Secretary/Treasurer of the Graham County Farm Bureau. His hobbies include spending time with his family, serving in his Church, farming, and doing all that he can to keep agriculture alive in the Gila Valley.

There are many challenges that agriculturalists face from market fluctuations, pests, to the weather. What are the biggest challenges that agriculture in the Gila Valley faces?

Like everyone in U.S. agriculture, we’re concerned with issues related to trade, pests, and – as always – the uncertainty of our weather. For those of us in the Gila Valley, one of our biggest and most urgent challenges involves the availability of water we need to operate our farms. We depend on a seasonallyflowing Gila River, which is stressed by long-term drought and growing demands. Since the 1930s, groundwater wells have made farming possible in this community. Unfortunately, continued use of some of those wells is now being challenged in court, and our agricultural way of life in this corner of Arizona is at-risk.

How many times a year do farmers in the Valley participate in some type of legal proceedings about water?

Even though we have had legal battles over water for nearly a century, it seems that we’re now facing them regularly. Our monthly irrigation district meetings are mostly spent discussing the latest legal briefings, addressing new lawsuits that have been filed, and discussing legal expenses that just go up and up. We’re farmers; not litigators. It would be great to be able to focus on our crops instead of court filings.

How real is the fear among farmers in the Valley that their wells might be shut down and that they might not be able to farm enough ground to stay in business?

This is the reality. It’s going to be difficult to continue farming for any operator ordered to discontinue use of their well. And if the legal challenges are successful, it may set a precedent that endangers many more wells in our region. Truly, it keeps me up at night. I wonder if I’ll be able to continue farming the land that has been in my family for generations, and I wonder if I’ll have anything to pass on to my children, should they want to continue our family farm. If we lose the ability to pump from wells, it wouldn’t just hurt farmers – it would devastate the economy of our entire region.

How many farm families are impacted by this case?

A handful of local families are targeted by these legal challenges. But, if those challenges are successful, it will likely lead to a wave of new lawsuits against wells throughout the Gila Valley and beyond. Depending on how these most recent lawsuits are adjudicated, nearly 60% of farmland currently in production locally could be lost. On a personal level, this would be devastating for these families. But it would also be tragic for our entire economy and way of life in southeastern Arizona. Think about all of the jobs that would be lost without productive agriculture in our region.

The Gila Valley Irrigation District and the Franklin Irrigation District have come up with a solution that is equitable to both the San Carlos Apache Tribe and the Gila Valley farmers. Can you explain what that solution is?

In 2004, local irrigation districts reached a water settlement with the Gila River Indian Community. As part of that agreement, the federal government set aside funding to resolve any remaining water concerns with the San Carlos Apache Tribe (which had participated in the negotiations but didn’t sign the settlement decree). With these federal funds, area irrigation districts have built a pipeline capable of delivering 10,000 gallons per minute of clean, clear water to the San Carlos Apache Tribe. That’s 6,000-acre-feet per year. Unfortunately, the pipeline currently stops at the reservation boundary because the Tribe and its attorneys have preferred to fight in court over groundwater wells rather than accept this peace offering. The irrigation districts stand by their proposal to complete the pipeline at no cost to the Tribe, delivering water wherever tribal leaders would like and for whatever purpose they choose. Best of all, this would allow everyone in our region to stop spending so much time and money fighting over water in court.

How would this solution benefit individuals and families living on the reservation?

Everyone in our region depends on access to water. We know the San Carlos Apache Tribe has had water shortages in the past, and the community of Bylas sometimes runs dry in the summer and asks for help from the Town of Pima. Access to a reliable supply of clean water, like this pipeline would provide, could do a lot to help tribal families. They could opt to use if for tribal farming, athletic fields or any other use that tribal leaders would find most beneficial.

Should the public be concerned about this case?

Absolutely – the recent lawsuits do not preclude more wells from being targeted in the future. It’s important this isn’t just a concern for agriculture. In Safford alone, wells provide approximately 60% of the water supply for residents during the summer. Whether you live in town or on the farm, this issue could have huge impacts on you.

How can the public support this equitable solution and help encourage an out of court settlement?

Be informed. Talk to your friends, neighbors and elected officials about this case. Share this information with your networks on Facebook and social media. The Upper Gila River Alliance was created to represent local farmers, residents, business owners and community leaders. The group is dedicated to spreading the word not only about the threat we face due to this tribal water litigation, but also the solution that exists to resolve it: completion of the Emery Pipeline. If you want to learn more, you can find us at SaveOurPumpsAZ.com.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Amber Morin grew up on a first generation cow-calf ranching operation in southeastern Arizona. She Graduated from Northern Arizona University with a degree in Political Science hoping to stay involved in agriculture policy. While pursuing her career, she continues to make time for her other passion – writing about the agriculture industry and the resilient people that make a living off the land.